UTTER despair swept across Teesside and a nation’s hopes and dreams were shattered once more, as England crashed out of Euro 2012.

Pub-goers at The Rudds Arms, on Stokesley Road, Marton, Middlesbrough, had high hopes for Roy Hodgson’s men as the first half got under way, with England looking bright.

Keith Duffy, 24, a planning engineer, from Middlesbrough, firmly believed the team would reach the next stage.

With a semi-final game against Germany in his sights, he said: “We’re doing all right. It will be 1-0 to England. It should have been 1-1 already, we should have had a goal early on and so should they.”

As the game went on, however, fans like Tony Fox, 45, described England as “cagey” and “pretty average,” as more half chances followed Glen Johnson’s early heroic effort.

A disallowed goal from Antonio Nocerino sent fans into simultaneous despair, then joy towards the end of 90 minutes.

Italy had looked the best side, leaving England grateful for an extra 30 minutes to prove their worth - but fans still had faith.

James Grange, 24, a landscape gardener, from Stokesley, said: “We’ve played well. If it goes to penalties, England will win.”

A brave overhead kick on goal from frustrated Wayne Rooney in extra time couldn’t prevent the inevitability of dreaded penalties - and everyone knows how that story has ended for England over the years.

Sadly, last night was no exception.

Despite a penalty miss from Italy’s Riccardo Montolivo sending England fans into a frenzy, Italy went through after both Ashley Young and Ashley Cole missed their spot-kicks and Alessandro Diamanti’s strike finally put an end to England’s tournament.

Tony, a steel worker, said: “We were second best really, so I think Italy deserved to win.”

Chris Conroy, 24, a supported housing worker, said: “We’ve never been good at penalties. It’s always been our biggest thing. But when they missed one of theirs, I thought we had a chance.”

Keith, who had such high hopes in the first half, said: “We were pretty poor - apart from the first 10 minutes.”

Jason Ditchburn, 25, a teacher, from Marton, summed up the feeling of a gloomy nation.

“It’s upsetting, depressing really,” he said. “We could have done a lot better.”